Mehdi Hasan interview indicted Nigeria media, by Dele Sobowale

2026-03-29 - 00:14

“A journalist should be pursuing a fair rendition of truth without regard to popular moods; the journalist should not be swayed by public opinion, only by the pursuit of truth, as close as he or she can get to it” – Malvin Kalb, 1997, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 109. AGIPs WE ALWAYS HAVE WITH US In addition to Daniel Bwala, there were Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omkri, ambassadors-designate, who had benefited by openly flaunting politics without limits. Before the latest practitioners of the political strategy of benefiting from Any Government In Power, AGIP, there was Professor Jerry Gana (I am sure most of the readers have forgotten him; but, that is why I have an archive), ex-MAMSER Director-General, Minister, under Babangida; ex-Minister under ex-Head of Interim National Government, led by Chief Shonekan; ex-Minister under Abacha; ex-Minister under Abdulsalami Abubakar and ex-Minister under President Obasanjo. There should be a round of applause somewhere for Jerry Gana – the trailblazer in the sort of political legacy that Fani-Kayode, Omkri and Bwala now work assiduously to leave behind. Unfortunately for the latter day practitioners of this brand of politics, the world has changed dramatically since Gana disappeared into obscurity. Nobody needs to develop an archive, like me, to remember the statements passionately made, with the fervour of a true believer. The internet warehouses everything – the one-man demonstration in front of Chatham House denouncing an alleged drug baron or the unconcealed insinuation regarding the murder of Funsho Williams in Lagos State; among other accusations. Femi, Reno and Bwala were totally blind to the impact of technology which has now made it almost impossible to swallow one’s vomit. Furthermore, without pretending to know how ambassadors-designate are screened by the proposed host country, still it would appear that the process must be thorough. What would Germany and Mexico make of President Tinubu’s nominees? How can a country trust an envoy, who one day calls a man drug baron and certificate forger and three years after disclaims all the defamation of character on permanent record? It will amount to a grave insult on our dear country if the answer to that question is “Yes”. WHO CREATED THEM? “A truth that’s told with bad intent/Beats all the lies you can invent” – William Blake, 1757-1827, VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS, VBQ, p 254 The most important question, as far as I am concerned, is: Who carries the blame for the successes of individuals like these? The surprising answer is: The Presidents who succumb. Fani-Kayode, since 1999, has been the most successful practitioner of this brand of politics. Every President, who had employed him, started out receiving his most vicious and relentless attack; until he is invited to “come and eat”. Obasanjo was the first to surrender. Femi was in the group of young men, gathering at the feet of Pat Utomi; when he was the presenter of Patitos Gang. UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and American President George Bush were the leaders of their countries at the time. The group was formed to promote an under-50 candidate for President in 2003. Obasanjo was too old; so they declared. Barrister Olisa Agbakoba’s chamber, at Apapa, was their meeting place. Every policy and programme of government was harshly, if not savagely, criticized. Fani-Kayode was the most critical – until 2002. When Obasanjo was preparing to run for second term, the old fox knew what to do. Baba Iyabo appointed one of the most erudite young men as the National Publicity Director of his campaign. He, in turn, recruited several others, Femi included; and Olisa Agbakoba, who was warming up to run for President was forced to abandon the bid. Thereafter, those gathered to “come and eat” stopped attacking Obasanjo and turned their lethal guns on his opponents. Femi eventually became Minister; sang Obasanjo’s praises until the end in 2007. President Yar’Adua ignored him absolutely and until the end. Jonathan also did until 2014. Instead, Jonathan appointed another sharp critic of his administration and wife as Senior Special Adviser for Media – Reuben Abati – who immediately became a stout defender of GEJ. Fani-Kayode was ignored by Jonathan and predictably a brutal attack followed. The former President and his wife were bombarded like Iran under fire from the US and Israel. Abati, then a solid defender of the Jonathans, published a put-down rejoinder calling Femi and others (names withheld) “yesterdays men”. A few weeks after that exchange, Nigerians heard on their televisions that Fani-Kayode had been appointed National Publicity Director for Jonathan’s re-election campaign. Suddenly the word “clueless” disappeared from Femi’s dictionary. Instead Jonathan became the best President Nigeria ever had. Obasanjo, who by then had turned his back on GEJ, was told by his former self-proclaimed “armourer” to go and jump off the Sapon bridge by Femi. Whether or not Jonathan believed Femi was loyal is a question nobody has asked; just as nobody has asked Fani-Kayode if he believed the drivel he published about Jonathan. His favourable attack on Buhari throughout the campaign was “Fulanisation and Islamisation of Nigeria” – which rendered the late President unfit to rule Nigeria. He was not alone; Reno and Daniel constituted the three-man team attacking Buhari for almost his entire tenure. Buhari, old soldier, ignored all of them. Then, something unexpected happened in the seventh year of the Buhari administration. Nigerians witnessed Fani-Kayode, led by one of Buhari’s closest confidantes, going to apologise to Buhari who graciously offered a limp handshake. Tinubu, like OBJ and GEJ (why Southern Presidents surrender), at first received a lot of roasting from the team until he took firm control. Emilokan set the tables and waited. There was no doubt in his mind regarding the question: “Guess who’s coming to dinner?” They came in one by one. BWALA’S INTERVIEW “If you shut up truth and bury it underground; it will but grow and gather to itself, such explosive power, that the day it bursts through, it will blow up everything in its way” – Emile Zola, 1840-1902, VBQ p 255. The question still remains: Who was responsible for these people? Without fear of contradiction, I would hold my colleagues in the media culpable. We have pampered these fellows for long, one of whom was exposed by the Medhi Hasan interview. Reno allegedly defamed the former Governor of the Central Bank, HRH Sanusi Lamido; tagged Tinubu a drug baron – and got away with it. Fani-Kayode attended Sam Nda-Isaiah’s declaration to run for President; and blasted Jonathan, a few days before signing on as Jonathan’s campaign staff. Bwala is a late comer to the group; but, he is not a stranger to us. If the truth be told, most of our media interviewers would not have had the guts to tackle Bwala as Hasan did. That interview, among other things, indicted the Nigerian media. We should have been asking those questions years ago. CORRECTION OF ERROR MADE A few weeks ago, the Attah Family Prayer was published on this page. There was an error, for which I sincerely apologise. Below is the correct rendition of the prayer. ATTAH’S FAMILY PRAYER Let us live O Lord we pray In sweet content from day to day In lowly toil and simple pleasure May we find wealth enough to treasure Put hope and courage in our hearts That we may bravely play our parts Grant love and friends and peace of mind And gratitude for blessings kind And when the sun sinks in the West Grant blessed peace and healing rest. Adopted in 1947 by Chief B.U.A Attah, 1908-1990 Author: an American lady: Patience Strong Source: ATTAH: ARCHITECT OF A NEW DEMOCRATIC DAWN p 2. On sale now. Call: 0703-777-2952 •Follow me on Facebook @ J Israel Biola